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David Poile, Peter Laviolette Discuss Upcoming Off-season For Nashville Predators

A lot of news and knowledge was dropped in the season ending press conference by David Poile and Peter Laviolette. Thankfully, Kris Martel was on the scene and shared news we saw coming, we didn’t see coming and all the inbetween. Let’s recap all of it, shall we?

Addressing The Game 7 Loss

We feel you, coach, we feel you.

While most fans would say they would have felt better if the Preds would have lost in a heartbreak fashion instead of being embarrassed for 60 minutes like they were in Game 7, a loss is still a loss.

Nashville: A Hockey City

What a year it was for hockey in Music City. The All-Star Game, a legitimate playoff run and a buzz that encapsulated the entire city. Yes, the season ended before the Preds and their fans wanted it to, but man, this year was fun and a huge accomplishment for Nashville as a whole.

The Players

SIGN THAT MAN. Will it be a bridge deal or a massive deal? The latter would be in the team’s best interest of course.

Playoff Colin Wilson was great. Regular season Colin Wilson this year had six goals and 18 assists in 64 games; not great for a guy being paid $3.938 million per year for the next three seasons.

Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to what will happen with Gabriel Bourque this summer. He is a very serviceable bottom-six forward – particularly on the fourth line – and kills penalties. Maybe another one-year, $866k contract to see what a healthy Bourque can do? He will turn 26-years-old in September.

This is good to know. It would be a surprise if it was another $735k deal was coming Jarnkrok’s way as he has shown he’s worth a bit more than that with 30 points in 81 regular season games this year. Plus, how could the Preds breakup the Swedish power house they’ve created?

Nope, Cody Bass isn’t going to be a name you see on the score sheet too often but all indications point to that he is a great locker room guy. Bass is a serviceable fourth liner and with the Tweets you’re about to read, the Preds may need that come next season.

Paul Gaustad is coming off of the books as he is a UFA but Eric Nystrom will need to be bought out or dealt to be removed from the roster. Here is your friendly reminder that Nystrom – the player that scored 19 points in 106 games over the last two seasons – was paid $3 million last season ($2.5 million cap-hit). He has one year left on his current deal that carries a $2.5 million AAV next season.

Gaustad carried a $3.25 million AAV last season, so that is a large large chunk of change that will be freed up.

This is an interesting one as the Preds have Marek Mazanec (who also needs a new contract) and Juuse Saros waiting in the wings in Milwaukee. Another full season in the AHL would likely be in Saros’ best interest as he just turned 21-years-old in April, but all signs point in the right direction for him and his future.

Keeping Hutton around for another season to let Saros get one more year under his belt wouldn’t be the worst move Poile has ever made.

Mazanec is an interesting situation though as he has three AHL seasons and 27 NHL games to his name. He also turns 25-years-old in July.

Hey, we are too, Mr. Poile.

Here’s the video, if you missed it.